Standing in the Clearwater up to my knees
casting a fly as pretty as you please.
Only trouble is I can't get out
cause I'm obsessed with steelhead trout.
The rain is falling on my bare head
my fire on the bank is almost dead.
I'm cold and hungry chilled to the bone
my thermos is empty my lunch is all gone.
The season is over it's done for the year
but come next fall I'll be right here.

Copyright by Michael Joe Cummins, Nov 1971
(All Rights Reserved)

sinktip

07-27-2004, 09:21 AM

That was the old OC. Now that he is in love, he rarely fishes. We had a long discussion last night where I had to explain to him that "not being able to fish" and "choosing not to fish" are not the same thing. He had gotten confused but I am hoping my counseling will turn him around. ;)

MJC

07-27-2004, 10:42 AM

Please use "mega therapy" on our friend. Maybe you can get him back on track by the time the fall season rolls around.
Since your rivers have warmed and the water is thin he is probably cruising the "Sound" with neked coffee girls riding the bow. :whoa:

andre

07-27-2004, 03:58 PM

Sounds like it is time for an intervention, we can hit two birds with one stone.

OC

07-28-2004, 09:48 AM

Thanks MJC my friend for the nice poem. Yup, as Sinktip said, that was me and to let you know it is still me. But right now I'm being the same as always just in different areas.

My best fishing buddy ever, old sinktip is very concerned but he need not be. I still enjoy our fishing time on rivers across the NW. My visits out your way mean a lot to my soul and my ego. Nothing better than releasing 6 steelhead in 37 casts and fishing most of the time behind the Tip. Visiting with you and Linda, priceless.

I spent 6 years rebuilding that classic old sloop of mine her name is RC LOUISE. Now that she is in the water she has become alive and I need to know more about her. If you have never felt the rebirth of such a complex voyager before then you are missing an amazing journey. At six knots she comes alive, the vibrations, the sounds and the fullness of her sails set against blue skies or star light on the darkest of nights is truely a trip.

Oh yes I am in love not only with RC Louise but the most beautiful of women, (Sparky eat your heart out). I don't know how I got so lucky being the old sarcastic crank that I am. But we are in love and that is what counts. We talk of sailing the Pacific in the not too distant future from island to island. She is a doctor and I am in water quality and there are programs for both of us out there where we could sail from island to island and be of some help to the different peoples of many far off places. She is as far left as I am, maybe more. She could be as happy being a shed girl as I could be being a shed boy somewhere outside Port Townsend. We could hang out with Moonlight and that would not be so bad between long journeys.

And to let you know she is concerned with me not fishing as much and insists that I go more. She wants to learn to fly fish and even understands that I will not teach her to fly fish for steelhead untill she learns to fish for lesser fish first. She will be happy just to come along and sit on the bank and observe what the river has to offer. That my friend is an incredible woman, so as you can see I have not forgotten how to fish. I still have the desire to fish and with friends but right now there are other things to do that are as equally important to me at my older age of 52. I am trying to re-establish the boy in the man as the dominate person. Too many years trying to keep up with the Jones's in the world of materialism so prevelent here on this continent. Looking forward or hoping to fish with everyone here at flytalk someday even SS. No not SS.

Thanks for the poem I will hang that up in my office and at home as a reminder of fishing and friends.

KerryS

07-29-2004, 10:18 AM

OC,

What a wonderul post. I have never met you but your post put a big smile on my face and I wish the best for you and both of your ladies. Life can be very good.

Kerry

MJC

07-29-2004, 11:09 AM

What a wonderul post. I have never met you but your post put a big smile on my face and I wish the best for you and both of your ladies. Life can be very good.

I very much agree with your quote above. Just think how much safer it will be for you coast guys to go steelhead fishing. If OC and his new loves are frolicing around in the Pacific you boys won't have to worry about any of those "jungle warfare" booby traps it is rumored he sets along the rivers. :whoa:

jjohnson

07-29-2004, 11:12 AM

OC,

Great post.

Hey if you want to have her learn to steelhead fly fish there are guides out there that do steelhead fly fishing schools you should get her into one of those. :chuckle:

JJ

MJC

07-29-2004, 11:16 AM

That was very good. :chuckle: :hihi: :chuckle: :hihi:

Doublespey

07-29-2004, 12:49 PM

JJ - I had no idea you were such a #%*!. Must be a side-effect of hanging around with that nefarious character Sinktip. :hihi:

Maybe we can suggest ~she~ buy OC a trip to that guide's Steelheading School for their next anniversary - with OC's decreasing time on the water, he'll probably be in need of a refresher course from a real ~professional~. :eek:

Hard Hat Mode <on> :lildevl:

DS

jjohnson

07-29-2004, 12:53 PM

DS,

Definate side effect of the company I keep. Used to be a nice mellow guy now I am kind of a jerk.

The anniversary gift idea is a great one.

JJ

flytyer

07-29-2004, 06:54 PM

Hey DS,

Those of us who know OC should chip and and secure a spot in said steelhead school for both OC and his lady so she learns steelheading the right way. Also, we must make sure OC has her use the SS Pink "wonder fly" while he uses the Cop Car, since it has been rumored these are the two best steelhead flies ever tied. :eek:

Moose

07-29-2004, 07:36 PM

I am trying to re-establish the boy in the man as the dominant person

AMEN!!

As age leaves behind that internal drive to be "The Man", (Top Dog, Bad Ass, whatever you want to call it), being happy means reuniting yourself with that kid inside. The kid who had fun way back when because "IT" was fun, whatever that "IT" is for you, without worrying about what anyone else thought. No Jones's to try to keep up with (never liked them Jones's anyway), no levels of class to be upheld. I think it's the only way to be a happy old dude rather than a grumpy old bastard. I strive to be a big ol' kid!

Power to ya OC :D

OC

07-30-2004, 09:06 AM

God, guys you are all really thoughtful. Russ, JJ and DS I can't thank you all enough for the anniversary steelhead school gift certificate. I'm also glad that the three of you got 40% off the price of the school because you are 3 time graduates from the school. And you know the tip and I were just talking about that the other day and he commented how the three of you all have that similiar unique style made famous in the school. Keep up the good work guys we know you some day will be ok steelheaders, just read your lesson book and above all listen to your teacher.

You know I had dinner with Mike Moore last night over in Columbia Point and we were thinking about doing a docudrama of flyfishing in the NW called,"The Last Cast to Steel". It's sort of a political expose on why steelhead have gone to hell in the last 25 years. I think Russ, JJ and DS should be in the film.

I've renewed my love for steelheading by going out the other day and buying a new 7wt, DT, F for a reel I can't even find. Does anyone have that reel? If you used it please bring it back.

Moose and Kerry, thanks for the kind words the both of you are true children at heart and that is a good thing. We will fish some day.

Hey JJ, are you using a hook on your swing? I know they teach that in the class you think you would know that lesson by now. :devil: :razz: :devil:

jjohnson

07-30-2004, 11:43 AM

It takes skill to land a fish without a hook point. It can be done.

That is a graduate level course though.

JJ

Big K1

07-30-2004, 12:02 PM

OC,

I think you should have your own floatilla school.
You could call it "Dirty old men who want to release their inner child float". :hihi:
It sounds like life is treating you well. Congrats on the lovely ladies in your life.
I feel for Tip though. Losing a fishing buddy can be hard on a guy. I think you
should make Tip the Cap'n of the floatilla. That will cheer him up. If you would
like to cheer me up, make it rain.

It's Friday!

Kevin

sinktip

07-30-2004, 12:23 PM

Kevin,

I do appreciate your concern for me and yes, losing OC as a fishing buddy is painful. Not as painful as fishing with him after he has spent the night with one of his new loves and feels the need to sing old English drinking songs as we float down the river. Not even close to that painful, but painful none the less.

:(

MJC

07-30-2004, 12:30 PM

You could call it "Dirty old men who want to release their inner child float".

You will be one of these pretty soon. It's actually not to bad a state to be in. :cool:

OC

07-30-2004, 12:41 PM

Kevin,

I'm going to make it rain on Monday.

Tip is already one of the most famous flotillia monkey's around. If you have not read of his exploites up north in the great Canadian woods you should check out some of his past post from last year.

To let you know it's been a little over exagerated about not fishing anymore. Though I have not cast a line often as of late I have been in search of SS down in the SW. But it has been like chasing wind mills on barren plains. Though I have not found the guru as yet I have followed his foot prints up many a river. I did find Mr. Coopers stash of money along side a beautiful desert stream. Which has got me thinking, could he be? Could 20 years in the Coast Guard be code? When I find and learn how to catch 15 fish in 37 casts instead of just 6, not only will I share his knowledge with all but I will share his hidden material wealth with you all also.

flytyer

07-30-2004, 04:23 PM

OC,

Since you found old Cooper's stash, DS, JJ, and I should not have gotten you the birthday gift day at the "famous" DD steelhead school. Now if you you happen to run into SS when in the SW, you will have found the person to take you into the realm of steelhead nirvana, or is that nerd 'o wanna? But I understand you must employ the magic qualities of the pink fly to entice the steelhead.

However, you are mistaken about me being a graduate of the "steelhead school" since I have an aversion to paying good money to a self-described steelhead guru for fishing lessons. I much prefer to go stomping and fumbling around the river banks and bars by my lonesome self and using the money thus saved to get a new spey toy. Perhaps you saw some other big, ugly sucker with a two-fisted rod with the guru after you had eaten a salad with mushrooms during a riverside lunch and mistook him for me.

I am glad to hear about you finally locating a woman friend who encourages you to get out to the river and that she wants to learn the gentle art as well instead of chasing those coffee girls hither and yon. We older gentlemen require a bit more sophistication and a certain shall we say expertise from the fairer sex than the exuberance of youth provides.

Sinktip,

Having to be in a boat while he sings any song would be bad enough, and those songs would be positively tortuous. Although, I have heard when someone of OC's vintage starts singing those old drinking songs, he is trying desperately to regain the youth from his college days so he can let's say boogie all night one more time.

OC

07-30-2004, 05:17 PM

Russ,

All I can say is WOW! You have said so much. MJC's poem is a reminder to all of us and who we are.

As for my singing voice, I have a golden voice and Hank Williams can you hear me now singing from that tower of song. from Leonard Cohen.

Everyone fish well this weekend and watch out for fly fishing schools. Did anyone notice that there were as many as 8 guests reading this thread this morning? CIA?
"There is a man over there you got to beware".

flytyer

07-30-2004, 08:25 PM

OC,

Regarding MJC's poem, "You Bet!" And those who don't understand why someone would stand out in a cold rain for hours on end while getting nothing more than casting practice and enjoying each hour immensely haven't attained the same level of consciousness.

Now I know why I see all those metrosexuals on the river with the very dark sunglasses.

sinktip

07-31-2004, 12:32 PM

"There is a man over there you got to beware".

What a field day in the heat,
Scores of metrosexuals in MY beat.
Their frothing the water and tangling line,
Most took a steelhead school at one time.
You got to stop fishing and look around,
this sport we love is going down.

(Sorry Neil)

North Island

08-01-2004, 02:45 PM

in MY beat.

How dare they :mad: Someone should have a word with those greasy trailer park boys.

Cheers N I :)

OC

08-02-2004, 09:36 AM

Hey Sinktip,

You need to grow your hair long and get a new job. I think you could make it as a song writer. That last one was very good.

Did anyone turn a fish this weekend?

sinktip

08-02-2004, 10:17 AM

OC,

Shame on you. Have you no manners.

Three things you NEVER do:
1) Ask a lady her age (unless she looks 15)
2) Wear white waders before easter
and
3) Never get on an internet site and ask anyone if they caught a steelhead.

Because I know you, and I like you, I will answer your question. No.

The well-mannered and always honest Sinktip

MJC

08-02-2004, 10:26 AM

I think you could make it as a song writer.

I don't think there are any steel in Nashville. HA-LA-LA-EEE-DOOOOOOO :whoa:

OC

08-02-2004, 10:34 AM

I like an untruthfull fisherman for they have character. You did not answer my question you answered your own. Everything is code, code and more code.

KerryS

08-02-2004, 11:04 AM

Did anyone turn a fish this weekend?

I hooked up with a white fish on Sunday. Looked absolutely huge coming out of the fog.

MJC

08-02-2004, 11:24 AM

ODE TO CODE
By Clearwater Frank

I GOT UP IN THE MORNING AND GOT ON MY PC

I WENT RIGHT TO THE FORUM TO SEE WHAT I COULD SEE

THERE WAS A LITTLE TRAFFIC BUT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT

SOMETIMES THESE POSTS JUST MAKE NO SENSE, YOU CAN'T MAKE OUT DAY OR NIGHT

Plato, Bacon and Emerson.
Have written in the code.
SS has caught them by the ton.
He has found the mother load.

As for the rest of us.
It's the path less traveled.
One oF LIES no room for trust.
The judge and his bamboo gavel.

Sinktip wades from left to right.
Kerry cuts a fog up north.
Leyland travels late to the secret site.
No wonder newbies don't come forth.

We are from the C.I.A.
And others from the S.P.E.Y.
400 plus where I fished today.
Be damned to tell you where to play.

Steve LC Wrye
sometimes known as OC in the summer of 04.

MJC

08-02-2004, 12:39 PM

Early yesterday morning a friend and I went down to the Indian casino to try our luck. We rolled the dice and on a pass or two we came close. Unfortnately I didn't take my "little HOTTIE" to blow on the dice and we came home empty handed.

sinktip

08-02-2004, 03:56 PM

MJC,

I'm very sorry to hear that. I did a little gambling myself this weekend. Only played one hand but I thought I had the dealer right where I wanted her. The crowd was really screaming for me but on the third card she flipped over, my high hopes suddenly went slack. Easy come easy go.

'tip

flytyer

08-02-2004, 04:29 PM

MJC,

Priceless.

No casinos for me; but I went out early today to play in the garden, which was wet with dew. I judiciously plied it with a small spade after first skimming its surface until the sun raised high and it became too warm. Alas, only some weeds and a couple little worms were all the little spade dug up.